Tracker or bridge for self-playing musical instruments.



- NoQsanzs.

" PA'TBNTED APR. 7, 1908. L. H. MAIER. Y TRACKER OR BRIDGE FOR SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APILIOATION FILED JAN.29| 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

my Zk PATENTED APR. '7, 1908. n

No. ass,vz. L. E. MAIER.

TRACKER 0E BRIDGE EoEsEEE EEAYINEMESIGAAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED .TAN.29, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- 25 tracker holes UNITED sTATEs PATENT OEEIOE.

' LOUIS II. MAIER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNOR To JOHN II. LUDWIG, 'OE NEW YORK, N. Y. v

TRACKER O R BRIDGE FOB SELF-PLAYING MUSICAL HWS'IRULENTSf Specification of Letters Patent. Application med January 29, 1906. 'se-iai No. 298,328.

PatentedApril 7, 1'908.

To all whom it may concern#` f -Be it known that I, LOUIS H. MAIER, a citizen of' the United States, residing in New York city, borough OfManhattan, New York, 5 have invented certain new and luseful AImrovements in Trackers or Brid es for 'Selflaying' Musical. Instruments, o which the followin is a specification.

In sei-playing musical instruments, as

1 0 known to me, the perforated music .sheets for' one make of instrument sometimes vary in width from the music dierent make of musical instrument, so that the music sheets for a given instrument will I not operate properlyr with some other make of instrument, and 1t is the object of my invention to rovide means to enable music sheets of di 'erent widths, or having different arrangements of perforations or holes, to

A be used in a given self-playing musical instrument or. mechanical player.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a plurality of movable or adjustable trackers or bridges, having different arrangements of or` orifices, whereby a music y sheet thatis perforated for a given note compass of an action may be used with one of the trackers' and a music sheet'lthat is perforatedv for a different note compass ma) be used- With the other tracker, and whereby also such trackers may be utilized in connection with erforated music sheets that may vary in wi th..

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of connection between the pneumatic operating devices of a self-playing musical instrument or mechanical player and the different series of holes or orifices ofthe trackers, whereby one series of 40 such holes maybe connected withthe secondary'pneumatics for a certain character of.

perforated music sheet and the lassociate .primary pneumatics ma -be connected with' a different series of trac 'er holes or orifices.

The invention also comprises the novel details of improvement and arrangement lof parts that will bemore fully hereinafter set Orth and thenpointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyingdrawings, formingv part hereof wherein,

igu-re 1 1s a face 4view of trackersand music sheet rolls embody' my invention. Fig.' 2l is a vertical sectionutlgereohenlar ed, illustrating the connection of with pneumatica for operating theation of a musichl-instrument, Fig.y 3 is a section .i sectional 'matics illustrating a modified form of means sheets adapted for a;

the trackers the Atrac ers' 4leading to the` corres ondinl 4 through the primary pneumatics on the line 1n Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a plan view, artly broken away,of the action chest of s. 2 and 3, Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view o the 60 trackers arranged for different note compasses and similar -widths of music sheets, ig. 6 is a similar View illustrating the trackers arran ved for music sheets .of different width am? different note compass, Fig. 7 is a detail view of the primary pneufor bleeding or venting the pneumatics, and, Fig. 8 is a horizontal section thereof, on the line y, y, in Fig. 7.' 70 In t e accompan ing drawings, in which similar numerals o reference indicate like parts in the several views, the numeral 1 indicates a suitable support or housing' in i' which trackers or bridges 2, 3 are adjustably 75 supported in position to permit the passage along the same of the music sheet 4 in'well known manner.. As shown in the drawings, 2, 3 are provided, preferably near opposite ends, with extensions or brack'- ets 5, 6 which are movably supported upon pivots 7 carried b 4, and thus said trackers are mounted to turn on a common pivotal axis. The trackers 2, 3, respectively, have series of holes or orifices 2a", 3a thatare connected with corresponding pneumatics in such manner that correspond- Ing holes 2, 3 connect with the appro riate parts of a correspondin pneumatic. 1t is desired to adapt t e trackers to. music sheets having different characters "of perforations, as for instance, one music sheet -havf ing relatively wide perforations and another music sheet having relatively narrow perfora-l 95. tions, .one of. the trackers, as 2, will have relativel large holes 2 andthe other .tracker will llave relatively small holes, is 3. As shown in the drawings, I referably connect the holes of one of the trackers, as 2, withl the secondary neumatics 10, and the holes of the other tracker with the primary pneumatics, as 10a;` To this end I connect the holes 2* 1 of the tracker 2, by pipes 11, with chan' nels or the like 12 in the body or chest that communicate directly with the secondary pneumatics inde endent of the primary.. .l lp connect the holes 3* ofthe pneumatics, and other tracker 3, by pipes 13 with channels I4? matics loindepen ent o 'the' second lpneumatica# Thel channels 12 vlead th'ef support 1 so as to bes/ i "rocked in PI Oper re ation to the music sheet primary,- pneuy u spaces or pockets under the diaphragms 16 of the valves 17 of the secondary pneu- 1natics,and the channelsA 14 lead to the spaces or pockets 18 under the dia hragms 5 19 of the primary pneumatics. T e channels 12 have openings 12aradapted to cornmunicate with the atmosphere, and saidV openings are normally closed by valves 20, suitably held upon the top board 21 of the primary pneumatic chests. Said valves are moved to admit air to channels 12 by means of stems 22 of valves'22, operated by the diaphragms 19, as by resting thereon, and valves 22 are adapted to close against seats or tubes 23 leading to openings 24 in the board 21, which openings are normally closed by valves 20. The arrangement is such that when air enters one of the tracker holes 2a, as. the music sheet'4 passes thereover, said air is thereby admitted to the corresponding channel 12 and passing to the pocket 15 ermits the suction or exhaust maintained) n chamber 25 to raise the corresponding diaphragm 16'and valve 17 to cause collapsing of the corresponding bellows 50 to operate the corresponding part of the action of the musical instrument in well known manner, and when said tracker hole is next closed by the inusicsheet the valve 17 will move back and open the )ort 17 a to the atmos here to permit expan ing of the bellows wit the assistance of a vent or bleed. It will thus be seen that the Voperation described is independent of the riinary pneumatics. When tracker 3 is use with the music sheet the air vthat enters a hole 3a passes to the pocket 18 of the corresponding pneumatic and permits the suction in chamber A26 to raise diaphra 1 n 19 and causes valve 22 to seat against tu 23 and at the same time stem 22 Will open valve and permit air to enter the correspending channel 12 through ope Y 12 to belcause the collapsing of the corres on lows 50 -in manner before descri d.

sheet, diaphragm 19 and valve 22 will move back with the assistance of a vent or bleed and'cause valve 20 to again close opening- 12a, and the neumatic 50 Willex and Asthe trac ers 2, 3 are adjustab with resp'ect tothe music sheet 4 either tracker may' be used as desired, and when a tracker is not in use during operation its holes or orifices are to be 'closed against the admission of atmosphere. For i this Y ose I provide springs or shields 2 7, 28 1n osition to res ectively overlie and close t e correspon holes o f trackers 2, 8 as desired, accor to the position of adjustment of said trac r. For instance, when the tracker 2 is to be used the tracker 3 will be moved back under the spring or shieldy 28 and tracker 2 moved into osition to co-act with music sheet 4, asincatedin Fig. 2, and when tracker 3 is to be used tracker 2 will be adjusted against its tracker hole is next closed bythe music.

spring or shield 27, as in dotted 'lines in Fig4 2, an tracker 3 adjusted into position to coact with sheet 4. By rpreference I provide felt or the like 27, 28*l on springs or shields 27, 28 to covertlie holes 2, 3a of the trackers to exclude the atmosphere. By using flexible tubes l1 and 13 the trackers may be adjusted readily to the desired positions. The springs4 or shields 27, 28 may be suitably supported upon the support or casing 1. Handles 2C, 3", on the trackers may be provided for moving the trackers.

ln ,order to bleed or vent the channels 12 and 14 of the pneumatics, I have (in Fig. 2) shown openings 12b, 14b leading from the corresponding channels 12, 14 to an exhaust orv suction chamber 30, and said openin s are provided with apertured seats orl ferru es 31 adapted to co-act with screws 32 having tapering ends to enter said seats orferrules, whereby the area of the vent openings 12b, 14b may be regulated according to the s ed of venting of pockets 15 and 18 that may be desired.l

In Figs. V7 and 8 I have shown a'simplified arrangement `for bleeding or ventingthe ockets 15 and 18, wherein the suctipnprexliaust chamber 30 is dispensed with and the vent openings 12b communicate by ports'12c with exhaust chamber 26, the vent being controlled by screw 32 and seat or ferrule 31 as before described; and the chambers 18 are vented by ports 18 in which seats or ferrules. '31 are placed and controlled by screws 32 as before described. The ports 18 ma be made by boring vertically and horizonte. y in the material 3 3 andl then assing the seats 31 down into the vertical*V 'res and moving them sidewise into .the horizontal bores as in y means of my 'lmprovements music sheets having f diierent, note compass, or sheets having different widths, or b oth, may

`be utilizedin the saine instrument. For instance, 'tracker 2 may have holes'of one char- 11@ acter, as-or a 65 note compass,andtracker 3 may have holes fora dilerent note' compass,

as 85 holes, extending -through the same length of thev trackeras the holes 2*, as .indicated in Fig. 5, or, one tracker, as `2, may have holes extending substantially 'across the same andthe other tra'eker3may have holes extending ,al less to date a narrow music sheet ,'(se'e `1 mdf). Where the trackers are tob'eada-pted for oA 120 eration with music. sheetsfof different ,wid

(as arranged in 6), I provide the followingarrangement or supporting 44the music sheet rolls 35,'36.' The winding or takup roll 35 may be" of suitable lengthl to take the 125 'Wide music sheet and be sup orted and operated in the vusual manner as y the pivots 37, 38, and to make connectionwith both the wide s eet 4 and the narrow sheet 4*,1 provide ro` 35` witha lplurality of hooks or the 13d connected with the centrally disposed hooksaid spring, projection 42b seavas like 39, 39, one of which hooks will be'near the center of dhe' roll and the other hook 3 9 nearer the end of the roll, as indicated in Fig. l. The usual pivot-s4() and 41 for the'music sheet roll 36 may be provided, and when a wide music sheet 4 is to be used its roll may be connected with said pivots and its eye 4b 39 of roll 35, in well known manner. When a narrow music sheet 4 is to s be used its relatively short roll, indicated by dotted lines at 36 in F ig. 1, may be adjusted to ivot or shaft 4]-, and to support said shprt ro l at the other end I provide an adjustable arm 42 ivotally supported upon casing 1, as by a p ate 43 and plvot 44, and said arm has a bearing or socket 42il to receive the stud 36b of roll 36a. Saidarm 42 may be held in the inoperative. position by a spring 45 carried by plate 43, and inthe o erative position, shownln the dotted line' in Pig. 1, also by said spring. For this purpose said arm has a projection indicated 1n Fig. 1 at 42b to bear against s ring 45, and the end of said arm may also ear against extending at an angle to arm 42. Thus, when a longA roll 36 to be used, arm 42 will be swung upwardly and held by spring 45, as in full lines in Fig. 1 andwhen a short roll 36a is to be used arm 42 will be swung down, as in dotted lines-in Fig. l, and its end willbear against spring 45 to hold the arm in operative positlon, androll '36 will have its'stud 36b engaged with the bearing`42a of arm 42 and its other end connected with shaft 41, and the ring 4b of the narrow sheet 4a will be connected with the hook 39'a ofroll 35, as in dotted lines in F ig. 1. By this meanswideor-'narrow music sheet-rolls may bereadily adjusted` with respect to the trackers 2, 3, as desired, and both will wind and rewind in well known manner. i The guiding flange 35 of roll 35 is'made adjustable along said roll, so as to be used near the end of the roll, as in full linesI in Fig. 1-,

and may be adjusted along said roll to guide a narrow sheetY 4 as figure.

Having now described my invention what Iclaim is 1. The combination of a plurality of separate trackers adjustably 1 supported so that either may co-act with a music sheet located in the same position at will, a plurality of series of pneumatics, and means for connecting the orifices of one rof said trackers with one series of pneumatics and those ofthe other tracker with the 'other series of fdotted lines in said pneumatica 2. The combination of a plurality of trackers having orifices, primary and secondary'pneu'matics, and means for separatel connecting one series of tracker orifices Wit the primary pneumatics and the other series oftracker orifices with lthe secondary pneumatics.

'contro 3. The combination of a plurality of trackers each,k provided with orifices, primary and secondary pneumatics, and means -orifices Vwith the primary pneumatics, and ,means for causing the primary pneumaties to admitthe atmosphere-to the secondary pneumatics.

5. The combination of a rplurality of. trackers each provided with a series of orifices, primary and' secondary pneumatics, means for connecting the .orifices of said trackers separately, respectively, with said primary and secondary pneumatics, and Y means controlled by one of the pneumatics to admit atmosphere to the other of the pneumatics.A i

6. The combination of xa pluralitj;T of trackers each. havingl a series of orifices,

primaryV and secondary pneumatics, tubes A connecting the orifices of one tracker directly with the secondary pneumatcS, and tubes connecting corresponding orifices of the other tracker with the corresponding pri-4 mary` pneumatics. f 7. The combination of' a plurality of trackers each having a series of orifices,

primary and secondary .pneumatica tubesconnecting the orifices of ong trackerdirectly l with the secondary pneumatcs, tubes connecting correspondingiorifiees of the other tracker with the corresponding primary pneumatics, andmeans operated by one #of the pneumatica to admit atmosphere to the l other of the pneumaticsi- :8. The combination of a pluralityi of trackers each having a series offorifices, with primary and secondary pneumatics, tubes connectin the orifices of one tracker Awith the secon ary pneumatics, tubes` connecting the orifices of the other tracker with the primary pneumatics, the secondary pneumatics having openings to communicate with the atmosphere, valves for said openings, and means controlled by the primary pneumatics for operating said' valves.

9. The combination of a plurality of trackers-each having a Vseries of orifices, with primary a'nd secondary pneumatics provided with channels, tubes connectin the orifices of one tracker with the channe s of the secondary pneumatics, tubes connecting the orifices of theother tracker with the channels of the primary pneumatics, the channels of the secondary pneu atics being provided' with openings to admi atmosphere, valves to 'said openings, and means' controlled greater length than the orifices of the ot er n valves.

by the primary pneumatics to operate said 10. The combination of a plurality of trackers provided with orifices arranged in different note compasses, primary and secondary pneumatics, means for connecting the orices of one tracker with the secondl ary pneumatics, Iand means for connecting the corres onding note orifices vof the other tracker wit the corresponding primary pneumatics.

11. The combination of a plurality of trackers provided with orifices arranged in y different note Compasses, primary and sec- `15 t 'the orifices of one'tracker with .the secondary ondary pneumatics,- means forfconnecting .greater length than the orifices of the other tracker, a series-'of primary and a series of Asecondary pneumatics, and means for connecting the orifices of one tracker with vone series of the pneumatics and for connecting the orifices of the other tracker with the other series of the pneumatics.`

13. The combination of a vpluralit of trackers each provided with a series o orifices, the orifices of one tracker 'extendin a tracker, a series of primar f and a series of secondarylpneumatlcs, an means for oonnecting .the orifices of one tracker with one series of the pneumatics and for connecting the orifices of the other tracker with the other series of the fpneumatics, and means controlled by one o the pneumatics for admitting atmosphere to the other ofthe pneut5 matic 14. The combination of a pluralit of trackers each provided with a series o orifices,'the orifices .of one tracker extending a greater length than the orifices of the other tracker, a series of .primary and a series of secondary pneumatics, means 4for connectin(r the orifices of one tracker with one series o thepneumatics and for connecting the orifices of the other tracker with the other se-V ries of the pneumatics, means for supporting a music sheet of Width corresponding to the tracker having orifices of greater length, and

tracker with the other series of the pneumat' ics, a music sheet roll havin a hook substantially centrally disposed an another hook at one side of the first named hook to engage a narrower music sheet.

16. The combination of trackers having orifices arranged according to different note Compasses, neumatics, means for connecting said trac ers with said pneumatics, a support havin means for sustaining a muslc sheet roll o one width, an arm provided with a bearing to sustain a music sheet roll of less width than the first named roll, and means for holding said arm in operative and inoperative ositions.

17. e combination of a pluralit r of se arate trackers adjustably supporterl so t at either may co-act with a muslc sheet at will, series of primary and secondary pneumatics, means for connecting the orifices of said trackers separately with primary and secondary pneumatics respectively, and shields at distances apart ada ted to close the orifices. of one tracker wh' e the other tracker is co-acting with a music sheet.

vLOUIS MAIER.

Witnesses: A

T. F. BoURNE, R. E. LIEBESMAN. 

